Kenya's Samburu National Reserve recently teamed up with Google Street View to provide users with a virtual safari experience. Although many people appreciate the beauty of wild animals, few have the opportunity to observe them in person. This program provides an easy way for users to observe wild animals from the comfort of their own home.
In order to create a virtual safari experience, Google relies on vehicle and backpack-mounted camera technology. With the cameras in place, the Google Street View team can go about filming the sprawling reserve. The Samburu National Reserve is particularly important due to its large population of wild elephants. The new program helps assist conservation efforts by tracking and managing the elephant herds.
The unique program gives viewers a glimpse of rare species that few are ever to see in person.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Virtual Safari Tours
- Opportunity to offer personalized virtual reality tours of national reserves to boost tourism and provide a more interactive experience for viewers.
- Wildlife Conservation Technology
- Opportunity to use technology such as cameras to track and manage herds of animals, and gain more accurate conservation data to support eco-tourism efforts.
- Online Education and Entertainment
- Opportunity to create online educational materials for schools and families as well as provide entertainment, similar to what is currently offered in museums with interactive exhibits.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Tourism
- Opportunity to offer virtual reality tours of national reserves to potential customers who might not have the time or money to travel there in person.
- Technology
- Opportunity to develop more advanced camera and tracking technology to aid in wildlife conservation efforts.
- Education
- Opportunity to create educational materials and programs that help students learn about wildlife, conservation efforts, and the importance of eco-tourism.
